The British Empire Archives - Aspects of History

The World’s Reformation: How Protestantism Became a Global Religion, by Alec Ryrie

A nuanced and globe-spanning examination of how Protestantism’s often chaotic missionary efforts helped shape the early modern world.

Zeb Baker-Smith

In a secular age, religious history can feel slightly tangential and recondite, particularly when set against the commercial and colonial designs of fledgling empires in the early modern age. Very well, except that is missing the point. Reformation Europe remains a...

Building Britannia: A History of Britain in 25 Buildings, by Steven Parissien

British history is traced through 25 iconic buildings – from Maiden Castle to 30 St Mary Axe – in this blend of architectural perusal and cultural insight.

Paul Strathern

Dr. Steven Parissien’s latest retelling of history through architecture, Building Britannia: A History of Britain in Twenty-Five Buildings, begins with Maiden Castle in Dorset, which dates from around 600 BC. In the words of John Cooper Powys, this resembles ‘the...

Building Britannia: A Conversation with Steven Parissien

The historian explains his use of architecture and landmarks in telling the story of Britain’s social and political history to author Paul Strathern.

Steven Parissien

Welcome, Steven, to Aspects of History. What was it that first led you into the study of architecture and cultural history? Which came first? I was always fascinated by British history and British architecture from my earliest years, though I’m not sure why: no-one in...

What Makes an Iconic Structure?

Britain’s truly iconic buildings are those whose architecture, symbolism and evolving histories have allowed them to transcend aesthetics and become expressions of national identity.

Steven Parissien

‘Iconic’ is a rather overused and clichéd word these days. It’s probably quite helpful, then, to unpack exactly what we mean when we use this term for the architecture of the past or present – or rather, what we ought to mean. Many new buildings in Britain’s towns and...

No More Napoleons: How Britain Managed Europe from Waterloo to World War One, by Andrew Lambert

As debate intensifies over Britain’s role in world security, Andrew Lambert offers a timely reassessment of the country’s 19th-century grand strategy.

Michael Barritt

It seems apt that the paperback edition of Andrew Lambert’s gripping analysis in No More Napoleons should be published as Britain’s contribution to the preservation of the security of the continent of Europe, and indeed the wider world, is under debate and our very...

Profit, Power, and the Making of Modern Britain

From the Black Hole of Kolkata and the Battle of Plassey to the Lancashire mills, Britain’s economic headway in the 18th century hinged on war, commerce, empire, and, above all, the ruthless pursuit of profit.

Edmond Smith

The Business of Conquest In 1756, the East India Company decided to strengthen its position in Kolkata by investing heavily in new fortifications. The Indian city had grown from only a few thousand people to around 400,000 in only fifty years – larger than any town in...

When a Single British Colony Ruled over a Quarter of Humanity

Vast swathes of Asia, spanning from the Red Sea to Burma, constituted the crown jewel of British imperialism before five separate partitions in fifty years saw the map redrawn.

Sam Dalrymple

When a Single British Colony Ruled over a Quarter of Humanity This spring, tensions between India and Pakistan reached their most perilous point in decades. With skirmishes erupting along their shared border and nuclear rhetoric flaring on both sides, the region...

Gautam Hazarika

The historian of Indian POWs discusses history, his research and his next project.

Gautam Hazarika

Gautam Hazarika, what first attracted you to the period or periods you work in? I had always been interested in WW2, primarily Britain’s war against Nazi Germany, but not in the Far East, even after living 20 years in Singapore where so much of it happened at my...

What is Unique About the Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II

So many stories have emerged in a new book on Indian POWs

Gautam Hazarika

Questions India myths about Subhas Chandra Bose, INA, are of great interest in India today India’s INA history is largely focused on Netaji. Indeed he did a lot, but he had a lot of help. The book shows that the INA was not started by him, but 18 months earlier by the...

Family Stories of The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II

There are many stories in a new book on Indian POWs of the Japanese.

Gautam Hazarika

Family Stories of The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II Captain Mohan Singh – history hero of the book – his son, daughter, niece and grandchildren Centurion and only survivor of Singapore I’ve found so far, Lance-Naik Charan Singh (Punjabi). Lucid and in...